ABERYSTWYTH Town were on the receiving end of a rampant The New Saints as the defending champions hit back from their Irn Bru Cup exit with an emphatic 6-0 win at Park Hall on Tuesday.

The Seasiders, after a 10 day break from action, were overwhelmed by the fired-up full-timers, who made an immediate response to their penalty shoot-out defeat to Scottish League Two side Queens Park.

A hat-trick from Aeron Edwards, along with goals from both Adrian Cieslewicz and Simon Spender meant Scott Ruscoe’s side remained top of the Welsh Premier.

Striker Rio Ahmadi back was back in the Aber side in place of Geoff Kellaway, to partner Ash Ruane up front, whilst Steff Edwards was back in at left back, and keeper Leigh Jenkins also returned in place of the injured Terry McCormick.

Wes Baynes rifled a long range effort wide, but Aber went behind on 15 minutes when a well-timed ball by Dean Ebbe put Aeron Edwards in behind the defence, to loft the ball over Jenkins and into the net.

Aber responded with Declan Walker getting a shot away, and Baynes went even closer when he strode on to Steff Edwards’ cross, but fired narrowly over.

The Saints, however, continued to cause problems, and a long forward ball from Blaine Hudson found Dean Ebbe, but the Irish striker was unable to capitalise.

Aberystwyth were in double trouble on 33 minutes when Adrian Cieslewicz weaved his way through the middle and then played the ball right to Spender, to fire home with a confident finish.

The floodgates had opened, and four minutes later Aeron Edwards collected the ball on the edge of the box, and with keeper Jenkins off his line, he showed great composure to chip into the net.

Edwards had a chance to complete his hat-trick a minute later when referee Cheryl Foster pointed to the penalty spot for a foul in the box, but keeper Jenkins made a great save down to his left.

Worse was soon to follow for the Seasiders, however, as a neat ball in from the left was converted by Mullan to make the scoreline 4-0 just before the break.

At the start of the second half, Jack Rimmer was introduced for Alan Goodall as Aber switched to a 4-5-1, but it needed a last-ditch tackle from Lee Jenkins to deny Spender, and when Blaine Hudson went down in the box, referee Foster waved away the appeals for a second penalty.

The home pressure continued, and Jon Routledge carried the ball through the middle and played a perfectly timed pass to Simon Spender, who crossed for Ebbe, but the ball was a touch behind him.

The Saints’ fifth goal did arrive when Spender again crossed for Ebbe, and he got a strong enough header to deflect the ball into the path of Adrian Cieslewicz, with the Polish winger stabbing home.

Aber made further substitutions with Joe Phillips and Geoff Kellaway replacing Ryan Edwards and Rio Ahmadi, and Phillips had soon played Rimmer in on goal, only for the ball to clip the post.

At the other end, Aeron Edwards continued to push for a hat-trick and he rose high to meet a cross into the middle of the penalty area, but couldn’t quite keep his header down whilst under pressure.

But Edwards did finally get his hat-trick with six minutes to go when he was well placed in the centre of the box to smash home a volley into the bottom left corner, to complete a miserable night for Aber.

THE NEW SAINTS: P Harrison, S Spender (K Lewis 65’), B Hudson, J Nembhard, C Marriott, T Holland (J Hmani 71’), A Edwards, J Routledge, J Mullan, D Ebbe, A Cieslewicz (K Byrne 74’). Subs not used: C Roberts (gk), B Clark, G Draper, D Redmond.

ABERYSTWYTH: L Jenkins, W Baynes, S Edwards, A Goodall (J Rimmer 46’), R Wollacott, R Ahmadi (G Kellaway 68’), D Walker, R Edwards (J Phillips 68’), L Jenkins, M Jones, A Ruane. Subs not used: P Mendes, N Blake, H Rowe, L Berner. Att: 223. Referee: C Foster.